Signaling apparatus.



H. R. WORTHINGTON.

SIGNALING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 26, |910.

Patented Sept. 4, 1917.

y UNITED sTaTEs VILATEND oFEIoE.

`'.EIIEINRY R. WORTHINGTN, OF DUNNFIELD, NEW JERSEY. i

SIGNALING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Sept; 4,1917.

Application fue@ February 2e, 1910.l serial No. 546,093..

To ally/whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, HENRY R. WORTHING- TON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Dunnfield, in the county of Warren and lState of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Signaling Apparatus, of which the following is a specification. d,

. My invention relates to that class rof apparatus which is employed at sea and at signaling stations and light houses for the purpose of communicating information to others in the vicinity. y

One of the objects of my invention is to providemeans which in times of fog, rain or snow, will enable officers in command of ships to give definite information to every one in their vicinity as to the position of their ships and the direction in which they are moving. Although my invention is adapted to such use, it is equally as well adapted for use in connection with light houses and signaling stations and at all places where, in times of fog and under conditions when the ordinary signal light cannot be distinguished, it is important to communicate information to others in the vicinity. y

At such times it is theusual practice on board of vessels, toblow stationary steam whistles and fog horns at frequent intervals for the purpose of advising approaching ships as far as possible of their location. But in the absence of Vany knowledge of the direction in which the approaching ships are proceeding, collisions frequently ensue.

By means of my inventiony these difficulties are overcome and the officers of the two ships equipped with apparatus embodying the principles of my invention may be promptly advised, if the two ships approach within signaling distance of each other, as to the relative directions in which the respective ships are moving and where they are located with respect to each other, thus enabling the courses to be changed to avoid collision. And under similar conditions of weather, a light house equipped with a signaling device embodying my invention can communicate its exact location with respect to that ships location.

Another object of the inventionl will appear hereinafter, the novel combinationsof elements being set forth in the appended claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawing,

The ligure is a plan view,`partly diagrammatical, of apparatus embodying ymy invention.

I prefer to mount in the bow of each ship a transmitting device comprising a whistle in a megaphone, and comprising also mechanism for oscillating the megaphone-across the bow of the ship through about 180 degrees and intermittently operating `the whistle. It should be understood that the megaphone, if desired, could be arranged to revolve on a given axis instead of to oscillate. In the form of transmitting' apparatus shown in the drawing, onabase plate or support 1 are mounted alliof the parts except the battery 2 and the manual switch 3 which may be .located wherever desired.

For instance, theswitch 3 may be placed in the pilot house or on the bridge.

1A smallrelectric motor 4 which in this instance is controlled by the switch 5 and the rheostat 6. is connected by the shaft 7 and lthe worm 8 to the gear wheel 9 which is rotatably connected to the base plate in a hori- Zontal position. At 10, near the periphery of the gear 9, is connected a pitman or link 11, the other end lof which is connected at 12 to the gear 13, which in turn meshes with the gear 14. Connected with the gear 14 so as to move therewith, is a megaphone 15 containing at its inner end a whistle 16` which lmay be an electrically-operated air whistle,

trolled 'by an electro-magnet 22.V .1

Connected to the gear. 9 so4 astorrotate therewith, is a pinion 30, whichl meshes with a comparatively large gear 29. At 27` is an electric switch which is normally open but may be closed by the cam 28 when the gear 29 moves to a predetermined position. The speed of the motor 4 and the proportions of the worm 8 and the gears 9, 30 and 29may be such that the gear`29 will rotate once in approximately one minute, and the cam f28 may be of such length that the switch 27 will or a steam whistle,the valve of which is`conbe closed for about five seconds invevery mins ute. The number of times these signals should be blown in any unit of time would be a matter of maritime regulation. Y In the case of light houses, the duration and frequency of the blasts would differy in different c be'traced from ythe batteryQ througha conwill be closed while the inegaphoiiel is os,

blast of ythe whistle.

ymoving at an angle toward 'the observer,

vcillating from port to starboard.

It should be noted that in this instance the circuits and connections controlled` bythe switch 27 are such that when the lever 19 is on contact 31 and theswitchQ? is closed by the cam 28, the circuit will be completed through the electrically-'operated `whistle or through the magnetQQ controllingthe valve of a stea'niori'air whistle.` This circuit .may

d uctor 21, electro-magnet 22, conductor 23,

i y lever; 19; Contact 315 conductor 32,'"switch ZTand conductors 33," 26,"bac'l'i 'to `the battery 2; w f j i for any reason it isdcsire'd to blowthe whistle more ir`equently,"thislcan be done'V by providing alsemi'-ci'rcu'lar cam 17 v"on vthe v"lowersideo't the gear?) to closethe switch 18 Ifor ivese'c'onds duringevery 10 seconds. 'In' 'such case, the whistle would 'be blown each vtime the megaphoiie moved. across the.

b'owof the' ship from port vto starboard.' To effect .thishmorefiequent operation ofr A tlie whistle, 'the lever 1'9jis moved oit Athe con- 'tact 3,1'. onl :tothe Acontact 2O so that Vwhenrected `in a predetermined manner which "will'be 'understood iby the ofi'cers of other yever the switch 18 v'is closed a 'circuit will be completed 'from` 'the :battery -2 'through conductor 21magnet'22; conductor 23, lever 519, contact Q0, conductor 24, switch 18l and Lc'oiiductors25, 26 -bacl to the batteryQ.

ln' the: drawingtheffulllines `represent thel positions lof the parts 'when the `mouth of lthe`megaphone is 'directedover 'the bow V"olif Vthe sliipfand the dotted'lines represent the positions 'of some of the'parts including A"themegiga'phone when thelatteris in its eX- A'treme starboard position., It should f be net'edthat, although the motor 4 and disk `v9frotate continuously` in .one direction, the 'linlrll iszpi'i'lledba'ck` and-"forth to eifec't an oscillation' 'ofthe megaphofne from side Ato side across `the bow of the 'ship.` I *prefer this -constructron to insurek the operation of thegwhisftle only lwh'enthe megaphone is di-v Vit will be yfound lthatv'fhere ythe whistle is operated while vthe megapho'iie is moving through an arc oflSO degrees, to a person u "at d'istancefthe sound will be at its greatest intensity when the'mouth of the megap'hone is/'pointed directly toward him, and that 'through all other portions of the arc the 's'.greatly decreased in volumer al- ;Sl thoughaudiblejthroughout its entire length 4to; an extent about equal to the vvolume of vsound 4`which.thel.same whistle would emit "atthe'same distance 'if unattached to a megaf ,'plione." Thus, it will -be seen, that when la vship equipped with my signaling device .is 'inoving'head on toward one listening to the signals, the `sound willbe first low, then ,bevcome loud andagain loiv, with the loudest f left-hand vside of ythe observer.

i come `within claims.

portion at substantially the middle ofthe l When the ship is is moving toward the rightdiand side oi If the ship is moving directly away romjthe observer, the blast will be-loweratthe-v ini'ddle'pai't thereof, and if moving at` anfangle-away 4'in -whichthe ship is traveling. 'lhen Iasliip yfrom the observer, the lowest part of the is equipped 'with a device such-as described, l'

an observer may know definitely in which direction the shipis traveling byrhearing the blast. l l y 'While I have illustrated and-'described the preferred form of construction oi my viiivention, I do not desire to ,bezli'mited to the precise details set forth, buty desire to avail Having thus described invention, what 'l claim and desire tohave protected by Letlters Patent oii-the UnitedStates, is:

' l.` In a signaling device,the combination ,of a sound producing device iiiov'ably mountmyseli' of such yvariations and changes as 5 the scopeI of the appended ed, means'ior oscillating said device through y' a predetermined arc of 4a circle, and means for operating said device while moving inv one direction oiiits oscillation and maintaining the device silent Vwhile moving inthe otherI direction of its oscillation.

2. In signaling apparatus, the combina` l tion with afsound-producing device, of a megaphoneffor directing the sound "from such device in' a prede'teriinii'ed direction,

and means igorv oscillating said sound-vpro- -ducing device land megaphone through a wide angle and operating said sound-pro ducing device during vsiich ,oscillation only for a predetermined arcy of movement and while moving in 'only one (direction of its oscillatory movement.

3511i signalingy apparatus z for ships, the

combination with a sound#pro.ducing device,

'of a'megaphone associatedtherewith,l autol 'matic ,means for movingl saidY megaphone and sound-producing device through a wide `.a'nglehavingaV definite relation t0 the longitudinal mediairline ofA the', ship', ,and mechanism forv eecting thevcontinuvous op eration of tliefsound-,producin'gdevice while the megaphone is .moving ina predetermined direction vover a predetermined,arev

of said angle.

iio`

fl. In a Vsignaling apparatus, the combi- .nation with a 'megaphone, of la soundy producing device in connection with the megaplione, means for oscillating said megaphone overa wide vangle,"and mechanism for'eiiecttric apparatus for operating said device, a

megaphone mounted for oscillatory movement and associated with said sound-producing device, and automatic mechanism for controlling said electric operating apparatus to eect the sounding of said sound-producing device by means of said automatic mechanism while the megaphone is directed in a predetermined direction and movingL angularly.

6. In signaling apparatus, the combination with a sound producing device, of a sound reflector associated therewith, apparatus for oscillating said sound producing device and reflector through a wide angle, and a device for effecting theoperation of said sound producing device when moving angularly in one direction but not when returning.

7. In signaling apparatus, the combination with a whistle, of a sound reiector associated therewith, automatic means for oscillating said reflector through a wide angle, and automatic means for operating said whistle only when said reflector moves angularly in one of its directions of movement.

S. In signaling apparatus, the combination with a megaphone, of a whistle associated therewith, electric means for operating said whistle, mechanism for oscillating said megaphone through approximately 180 degrees, and circuits and connections for controlling the operation of said whistle by means of said oscillating mechanism while the megaphone is moving angularly through approximately 180 degrees in one direction but not when returning.

9. In signaling apparatus, the combination with a sound producing device, of a through a wide angle, means for controlling said whistle by means of said oscillating mechanism while the megaphone is being moved over one of its paths but not when returning, and connections for varying the frequency at which the whistle is blown but retaining the predetermined direction of movement of the megaphone while the whistle is sounded.

l1. In an apparatus employing sound for the purpose of signaling, the combination with means for concentrating said sound in one direction, means for oscillating the line of said concentrated sound through a wide angle, a sound-producing device, and mechanism for eii'ecting the operation of said sound-producing device while said soundconcentrating meansis moving from left to right or from right to left, but not when moving in the opposite direction.

12. In signaling apparatus, the combination with a whistle, of a megaphone associated with said whistle, means for oscillating said megaphone through an arc oi about 180 degrees, mechanism for effecting the operation of said whistle while the megaphone is being moved from right to left or from left to right, but not when being moved in the opposite direction.

13. In combination with a ship, of an apparatus for employing sound for the purpose of signaling, means for concentrating said sound in one direction, means for moving the line of said concentrated sound through a predetermined arc of a circle, said arc bearing a xed relation to the longitudinal aXis of said ship, and mechanism for effecting the operation of said signaling apparatus only when the sound-concentrating means is beingfmoved angularly in a predetermined direction.

14. In an apparatus employing sound for the purpose of signaling, the combination of means for concentrating saidsound in one direction, means `for moving the line of said concentrated sound through a predetermined arc oiE a circle and back again continuously, said arc bearing a liXed relation to the points ofthe compass, and mechanism for effecting a continuous operation of said signaling apparatus when the sound-'concentrating means is moving over said predetermined arc in one direction but preventing its operation during its return movement to initial position.

15. In an apparatus employing sound for the purpose of signaling, vthe combination of a megaphone for concentrating said sound,'means wherebythe line of said concentration is made to sweep through a predetermined arc of a circle and back again continuously, and mechanism for yeecting the sounding of said signaling apparatus when said megaphone is moved over said predetermined arc of a circle in one of the directions of 'movement an'dpreventing the sounding of said signaling apparatus when said megaphone is returning over said predetermined arc of a circle.

16. In fan apparatus-employing sound for the purpose of signaling, the combination with a whistle, of a megaphone, apparatus for moving said mega phone through a horizontal plane in the arc of a circle and back again continuously, and means whereby said whistle lis caused rto sound only when said megaphone is being moved over a predetermined arcof said circle in one of its directions of movement and not in the other. f

17. In an vapparatus employing sound for the purpose of signaling, the combination of a megaphone and a whistle, .and means whereby said whistle is sounded while the megaphone is moving over a predetermined arc in a predetermined directionandvprevented from being sounded while moving in the opposite direction. f

18. In a signaling apparatus by means of sound, the combination ol sound producing mechanism, means whereby said sound is co-ncentrated in one direction, and mechanism for effecting the operation of said soundproducing mechanism 'while the sound-concentrating means is moving over a wide angle in a predetermined direction and not in the opposite direction.

19. In signaling apparatus, .the combination with awhistle, of' a reflector associated therewith, a gear connected to said reflector, a second gear meshing with said first-mentioned gear, a driving gear, and a pitman connecting said driving gear with said second-named gear to cause the first and-second gears `and the reflector to` oscillate while said'driving gear continuously rotates.

20. In signaling apparatus, the combination` withA anelectricwhistle, of a sound reflector associated therewith, av driving gear, an electricv switch operated by said vdriving gear, a gear Aconnected to said sound reflector, an intermediate gear meshing with said sound reflector gear, and a pitman connecting `said intermediate gear and said drivingi gear to effect the oscillation of the sound reflector while said driving gear continuously rotates.

21. In signaling apparatus, the combination with a whistle, of a sound reflector associated therewith, a driving gear, `intermediate mechanism between said drivinggear and said sound reflector to effect the oscillation of the latter whilethe driving gear continuously rotates, and means associated with said driving `gear for effecting the operationy of said whistle only when said sound reflector is being moved o-ver a predetermined arc of a circle in al predetermined direction.

22. yIn a signaling apparatus, the combination with a whistle, ofa sound reector associated therewitlnian electro-magnet for operating said whistle, a driving device, `intermediate mechanism between said driving de- ,Ccpies of thispatentrmay be obtained for vice and said reflector for effecting theoscillation of' said reflector through a wide angle while said driving -device moat-QS. continuous'l y inthe same direction, switching `mechanism associated with said driving A.device fortelfecting the operation of said electromaguet and the sounding-of said Whistle while the sound reflector ismoving in one direction over its arc of movement lbut not lwhile returning, reduction gearing,v `and switch mechanism .associated with saidx-reduction gearing to` el'ect the loperation of said whistle at lessl frequentintervals but while said sound reflector lis moving in kthe aforesaid predetermined direction overthe said predetermined yarc Hof movement.

'23. In a signal device, the combination of a ship, a megaphone mountedon said ship, means for oscillating said megaphone through an angle having .a definite relation to the ship, 'a' sound producing device mounted in and carried by 4said megaphone, and means for operating said sound producing device while moving in one ,direction of itsy oscillation land maintaining ,it` silentv when moving in the other direction ,of its oscillatory movement.-

24. In a signal device, the combination .of a ship, a mega-phone. movably mounted .at thebow Vof the ship, means adapted toA oscillate said megaphone throughnn angle of substantially 180, said angle being bisected by the longitudinal median line of 'the ship, a sound producing device mounted in the megaphone, and means for operating. the sound producing device while traveling in only one direction ofits oscillatory movement. i v i 25. In a signaling device, the combination `oli-a supporting object, a megaphone.

movably mounted onwsaid object, a sound producing device mounted in. said megaphone, `means moving said megaphone and device in one direction` vthrough a "definite passing through said `object and l bringing the meO'a hone and device `into Dosition a a v' again to be moved through,saidjanglein vsaid direction, and means operatinggsaid sound producingdevice fwhileypassingf through said angl-e 1n said direction, and

`maintaining the device inoperative when not liitnesses: p j

ALEX. Y.V.Io1-rNsoN, CI-rAs. C. VORTHINGTON.

ve cents each, 'by addressing-fthe. ,Commissioner of Tatents, Washington,'D. C.

Langle which is ,bisected' by' a certain line Y 

